PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PD GROUP A:
ART, ENGLISH,ESOL, COMMERCE, MATHEMATICS, MEDIA, LANGUAGES, LEARNING SUPPORT

PD GROUP B:
PE, SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, PERFORMING ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY

The first session will be a focus on myclasses and the upgrade there. I have also asked Pat Barrett to run a session on accessing last year’s data for this year’s class. The emphasis will be on using ICT tools or on setting up e-learning environments.

DEPARTMENT PD
Note that there is a regular cycle that structures Department Meetings alternating with Department PD on Tuesdays. This PD needs to be led by you as HOF or be someone delegated for the task. I would prefer not to see, as some departments did last year, department meetings held all the time.

This year there are a lot of topics for department PD:
· Revising and cross-moderating new Level 1 courses
· Designing and investigating tools to track achievement in the Junior School
· Bringing in outside speakers for your session
· Involvement with the feedback on Level 2 re-alignment.
· Focus on assessments that have been rejected by external moderation
· Focus on weak standards – either internals or externals
· Using FPER to apply a departmental ICT initiative.
· Focus on gathering baseline data for year 10 and 11
· Sharing Literacy startegies
· Analysing e-asTTle data
·
Secondary Literacy Project PD
This will move into year 2. 12 more staff will be chosen for the second Focus Group. I have been asked to try where possible to have teachers of lower band classes as part of the project. A willingness to use e-asTTle, to observe and be observed, to try strategies out, to structure lessons with language as well as subject learning intentions is what is required. In return you will be given the opportunity to be released from class for 2 hour slots so that quality PD can be facilitated.

Special Project PD
Some HOFs have been involved with special projects that utilise either the whole department or a section of their department. PE and Languages are good examples of this. Keep in mind that the most expensive aspect of PD is the TRD at $280.

Professional Reading PD
The logistics of the relief cover for the SLP mean that from time to time we can offer a professional reading time slot on the days when we are running PD for the literacy project. This would be for a separate 6 people who would have requested the Reading time.

If we are bringing in 6 relievers to cover 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, it makes sense to provide 6 other staff with an opportunity to use our PD Library or their own Professional Reading.

In time, if there is support for this idea, I can see scope for PLGs ( Professional Learning Groups) to develop around the reading and using the SLP as a model for the relief ie I would support a PLG of say 4 people who are interested in running with a proposal. The would need to run it by me first but I am amenable.

Individual PD
As previously the yellow PD application form is the system for those who wish to go on PD.

HOF approval is always required. It is helpful if HOFs can be equitable in your allocation of the PD budget. Try to ensure that all staff receive a fair share of the cake.

Those who are keen to travel to Conferences in the holidays can see me and we will encourage early-bird booking of both conference and air fare.